The start of the new year is a time of reflection as our organization gives thanks to the many volunteers and community partners who generously donated their time and resources to support the Granby PTO.
The school year opened with an ice cream social for the incoming pre-K and Kindergarten classes at Salmon Brook Park; a back to school breakfast for parents at Lite-n-Up on the first day of school; and the merchandise committee hosted a booth at Celebrate Granby festivities.
The school year opened with an ice cream social for the incoming pre-K and Kindergarten classes at Salmon Brook Park; a back to school breakfast for parents at Lite-n-Up on the first day of school; and the merchandise committee hosted a booth at Celebrate Granby festivities.
The Special Education Committee presented a parent forum regarding 504/IEP’s and related laws by parent advocate, Eileen Swan. As September quickly faded into October, the PTO joined in on the fun for Trunk or Treat at Salmon Brook Park sponsored by Granby Recreation Department and hosted the Second Annual PTO Fall Festival at Valkyrie Equestrian Center, complete with pony rides, games, a small touch-a-truck event and pie eating contest. Granby Little League and Granby Rovers also partnered with the PTO to create a “Sports Corner” at the Festival where kids and adults alike could practice their soccer, baseball and softball skills. The Festival was very well attended by Kelly Lane and Wells Road families as well as children from local child care centers.
The Fall Festival kicked off the Autumn Auction, which served as the PTO’s primary fundraiser for the year. The Auction was conducted solely online over the course of a week, and grossed almost $26,000. The PTO was very fortunate to have the support of many local businesses who donated items to the auction, as well as Granby Little League, Granby Rovers, Granby Youth Lacrosse and Granby Youth Football, who helped to advertise the fundraiser to their memberships. The most popular items in the auction by far were the experiences offered by teachers and staff at all of our schools, including GMMS and GMHS. From lunch with the Spanish teachers at Rancho Viejo, to a classroom transformed into a spa, to enjoying movies with some favorite teachers, these experiences offered an opportunity for teachers and students to connect outside of the classroom and for parents to provide their children with exciting and unique memories. Helping to round out Octoberfest week was a night out at Jake’s Wayback Burgers, that generously donated a percentage of the evening’s profits to the PTO.
Following on the heels of the auction in mid-November was an evening at Kelly Lane with Brian Kleinman of Riverside Reptiles. All families were invited to attend this free event where Brian exhibited and shared fun facts about some of his reptile and amphibian friends. Over 100 people attended this educational evening and families donated food items provided to the Granby Food Pantry. In November, the amazing room parents at Kelly Lane and Wells Road hosted luncheons of soup, salad and desserts in gratitude for teachers and staff.
December was a busy month, with several activities crammed into a few short weeks. Working together with Alicia Budney (aka Dona Alicia), the Spanish teacher at Wells Road were joined by over 100 students/families for a private showing of the Disney/Pixar feature film, Coco. During the week of December 4th, our dedicated Book Fair chairs and their fantastic committees held a western-themed book fair at both Kelly Lane and Wells Road that realized a combined profit of $3500. During that same week, parent and high school volunteers provided child care at Kelly Lane during parent/teacher conferences. Finally, the PTO E.L.F. (Enhanced Learning Fund) Committee awarded two grants, one to the intermediate school for a songbird habitat and one to the primary school for the library maker space, including supplies for every second grader to build their own bristlebots (robots made out of electric toothbrushes!).
In-school programming funded by the PTO provided for a visit from Tactor-Mac author, Billy Steers at Kelly Lane and a performance by Sukari at Wells Road. The PTO’s Special Education Committee sponsored, in part, a kindness and acceptance assembly featuring speaker, Ryan Martin of The Ryan Martin Foundation. This non-profit organization helps youth and adult athletes with disabilities live independent, impassioned, productive and full lives through sports training. Ryan spoke to the students about his disability and how discovering basketball as a 12-year-old transformed his world from wheelchair-bound to bound-for-college, for professional basketball and for traveling overseas.
Winter and Spring 2018 will bring more PTO-supported events and school programming. The PTO is excited to announce the creation of an online PTO store where the community at large can shop for Granby-related clothing and accessories online and also make monetary donations to support the PTO’s continued good works. The store can be found online at: granbypto.org/store.
The PTO holds quarterly evening meetings. On March 12 at 6 p.m. at Wells Road Intermediate School, Superintendent Addley will present the proposed school budget for the 2018-2019 school year. The public is welcome to attend. For more information including ways to give back to support the PTO, please visit granbypto.org.
Following on the heels of the auction in mid-November was an evening at Kelly Lane with Brian Kleinman of Riverside Reptiles. All families were invited to attend this free event where Brian exhibited and shared fun facts about some of his reptile and amphibian friends. Over 100 people attended this educational evening and families donated food items provided to the Granby Food Pantry. In November, the amazing room parents at Kelly Lane and Wells Road hosted luncheons of soup, salad and desserts in gratitude for teachers and staff.
December was a busy month, with several activities crammed into a few short weeks. Working together with Alicia Budney (aka Dona Alicia), the Spanish teacher at Wells Road were joined by over 100 students/families for a private showing of the Disney/Pixar feature film, Coco. During the week of December 4th, our dedicated Book Fair chairs and their fantastic committees held a western-themed book fair at both Kelly Lane and Wells Road that realized a combined profit of $3500. During that same week, parent and high school volunteers provided child care at Kelly Lane during parent/teacher conferences. Finally, the PTO E.L.F. (Enhanced Learning Fund) Committee awarded two grants, one to the intermediate school for a songbird habitat and one to the primary school for the library maker space, including supplies for every second grader to build their own bristlebots (robots made out of electric toothbrushes!).
In-school programming funded by the PTO provided for a visit from Tactor-Mac author, Billy Steers at Kelly Lane and a performance by Sukari at Wells Road. The PTO’s Special Education Committee sponsored, in part, a kindness and acceptance assembly featuring speaker, Ryan Martin of The Ryan Martin Foundation. This non-profit organization helps youth and adult athletes with disabilities live independent, impassioned, productive and full lives through sports training. Ryan spoke to the students about his disability and how discovering basketball as a 12-year-old transformed his world from wheelchair-bound to bound-for-college, for professional basketball and for traveling overseas.
Winter and Spring 2018 will bring more PTO-supported events and school programming. The PTO is excited to announce the creation of an online PTO store where the community at large can shop for Granby-related clothing and accessories online and also make monetary donations to support the PTO’s continued good works. The store can be found online at: granbypto.org/store.
The PTO holds quarterly evening meetings. On March 12 at 6 p.m. at Wells Road Intermediate School, Superintendent Addley will present the proposed school budget for the 2018-2019 school year. The public is welcome to attend. For more information including ways to give back to support the PTO, please visit granbypto.org.